Phils hope Brignac can handle utility duties

NEW YORK — Reid Brignac thought hitting two home runs and driving in six for Lehigh Valley was the highlight of his Thursday. Then it got better.

Brignac, the erstwhile high-end prospect who has struggled to get a foothold in the majors, found out that instead of returning home with the Iron Pigs, he was joining the Phillies in New York, replacing ice-cold Freddy Galvis as the team’s utility infielder.

“That’s the reason that he’s here … the way he has swung the bat,” Ryne Sandberg said. “He’s been the hot bat lately from the left side. He’s also a veteran infielder who can cover some spots.”

Brignac followed up a strong spring by continuing it with the Iron Pigs, hitting .284 with a .514 slugging percentage. He went 9-for-29 (.310) with three homers, 11 RBIs and a 1.077 OPS during the Pigs’ seven-game road trip and has shown some of the pop that led to him hitting 24 homers as a 20-year-old in 2006 for the Rays and had him rated as one of the 20 best prospects in the minors.

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“I was trying to keep doing what I was doing down there, having good at-bats,” Brignac said. “I’ve been swinging the bat well. The last couple of years I’ve struggled offensively, so it’s been nice getting back on the ball, getting hits and finding holes.”

Brignac thought he had done enough to make the big-league team this spring, but the Phillies instead picked up Jayson Nix and added him to the roster. Part of the reasoning is that Brignac, 28, is a left-handed hitter, and the Phillies are flush with those.

But with the bench’s offensive production anemic and Cesar Hernandez busy trying to hone his skills on the left side of the infield, Sandberg and the front office no longer could pick nits.

“I felt like I did enough to make the team,” Brignac said. “But that’s the business side of the game. I’ve been around for 10 years now, so I know how it goes. It gave me an opportunity to play every day. Even the last few years, I made the big-league team and was spot-starting and not playing consistently. It was nice to get back and be in the lineup every day. It was definitely a benefit.”

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With veteran reliever Scott Camp opting for free agency after the Phillies designated him for assignment to the minors, it created an opening on Lehigh Valley’s shaky collection of big-league failures in the bullpen.

Kenny Giles, not surprisingly, got the call.

The flame-throwing prospect got the bump up from Reading after scorching through Double-A hitters. He struck out 29 of the 57 batters he faced, allowing no extra-base hits and five walks. Some of those who have watched the Phillies’ right-handed relievers melt down repeatedly wondered if Giles should make the express trip to the majors.

Sandberg, who is as desperate as anyone for competent relievers, felt this was the wise move.

“It’s a graduation scenario, going from Double-A to Triple-A,” he said. “It’s a step towards the major leagues. He’ll see some veteran hitters. But’s he has pitched well.

“It’s just to make sure that he’s ready to come here and stay here. The fact that he’s going upward and having success, that’s a positive thing.”

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NOTES: The Phillies had a concerning rehab outing by Ethan Martin (shoulder), who was removed from an outing for Clearwater after five batters. Martin’s velocity has not been good since getting back into games ... Darin Ruf (15-day disabled list, oblique) had two hits and an RBI for the Threshers in the same game ... Catcher Tommy Joseph, who has had a series of concussion issues, left Reading’s game Friday night after a collision at the plate.